Progress on Reducing Glaucoma Blindness

Considerable progress has been made on reducing new blindness from glaucoma. This is great news for anyone with glaucoma or at risk of getting glaucoma.  The many new advances that help us with the early diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma have reduced the chance of vision loss, and in fact the risk of blindness from glaucoma has decreased  by nearly half according to researchers from Mayo Clinic. Glaucoma is a condition where the eye does not drain fluid properly, resulting in high pressure in the eye that can damage the optic nerve. In the United States, 2.7 million people age 40 and older have the condition. If left untreated, glaucoma reduces peripheral vision and eventually may cause blindness. According to the Mayo Clinic study, the likelihood of losing sight in one eye was 28 percent for patients diagnosed with glaucoma between 1965 and1980. That number fell to 13.5 percent for patients diagnosed between 1981 and 2000.

Our practice and eye doctors at Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center have worked to consistently encourage patients to schedule regular eye exams with glaucoma testing as this is the best way to detect glaucoma early and initiate treatment as quickly as possible. In addition we have incorporated the regular use as needed, of in office high technology diagnostic imaging called Optical Coherence Technology (OCT) as well as high resolution digital photography for diagnostic purposes. This along with Scott Buck, M.D. providing Indiana patients with in office laser treatments for glaucoma has contributed to our ability to prevent vision loss and blindness from glaucoma.

If you or someone you know has a question about glaucoma or needs and eye exam and tests for glaucoma please call Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center at 219-464-8223, or visit Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center or facebook.com/nwindianaeyeandlaser. 

Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center offices are located at 502 Marquette Street, Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 and 1001 South Edgewood Drive, Knox, Indiana 46354.